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Novel tool identifies, colors mosquitoes carrying infectious diseases
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A researcher from the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, developed a surveillance tool that attracts mosquitoes, diagnoses those carrying disease and marks them with a different color to warn residents in at-risk areas, according to a press release.
“This novel trap can help everyday people readily identify their risks and protect themselves from mosquito-borne illnesses,” device designer and assistant scientist Bradley Willenberg, PhD, said in the release.
Bradley Willenberg
The development of the tool is supported by a $100,000 phase 1 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The trap projects an odorous blend that attracts mosquitoes carrying disease. Inside the trap is a wick-based device soaked with red-colored sugar water the mosquitoes feed on. The substance also contains modified gold nanoparticles that react to disease proteins. Mosquitoes that do not carry disease remain red after consuming the particles whereas disease-carrying mosquitoes turn blue. High numbers of infected blue mosquitoes indicate serious risks for infection in the area.
Willenberg and colleagues from the University of Florida will work with medical entomologists from the Department of Agriculture to test existing mosquito traps and identify specific species. Initially they will focus on testing mosquitoes infected with chikungunya. If successful, the tool could be readily adapted to mosquitoes infected with other illnesses, Willenberg said in the release.
Mosquito-borne viruses cause several million deaths and illnesses each year, according to WHO. The Pan American Health Organization reported 51,703 confirmed cases and 1,715,471 suspected cases of chikungunya worldwide, including 270 deaths. According to the release, 40% of the world population lives in malaria-endemic regions, and up to 2.7 million people die from malaria annually. In addition, 20 million people are affected by dengue fever.
Disclosure: Willenberg reports no relevant financial disclosures.